The overall rating of a review is different from a simple average of all individual ratings.

Share this review on

Knees Up Mother Earth is a well-produced insight into the sort of writing Robert Rankin is able to produce when he's on form. Continuing well with a set of characters who came to fruition seven-or-so books previously, the author manages to weave a plot not devoid of nonsensical calamity, but also ripe with good humour and clever story-telling.

Although Rankin can have a tendancy to run with an over-abundance of obvious running gags, getting lost in a tangle of crossing sub-plots and messy jokes, this is not the case with the latest addition to the Brentford Trilogy - a trilogy in four parts, in five books. Which now spans seven. This is also the second book in the Witches of Chiswick Trilogy, though don't let that confuse you.

Three major plots present themselves in the line-up that constitutes this knees-up-in-a-book: the recovery of a Victorian system of electricity transmission, resulting in what Norman Hartnell, the local shopkeeper, hopes will be his long-deserved uncovering of the Big Number (that which describes all reality); the appearance of a strange man who wishes to purchase the Brentford Bees' hallowed football stadium, who later becomes a satanic thorn in everyone's side; and the appointment of Jim Poolley as the manager of the faltering Bees.

Seemingly mindful of the folly of becoming too involved in repetitive humour, the author describes each character, scene and circumstance with a wide range of humourous description and a plethora of literary devices, to excellent effect. The participants in the story are as rich in character as ever and it's easy to empathise with those whose task it is to do what must be done.

The story revolves around the absolute necessity of preventing the darkest imaginable forces from releasing the embodiment of original temptation in a plot to destroy the Earth. How? By playing football. Brentford must win the FA Cup. And our favourite leading double act are the pair of men to do it. With a little help from Professor Slocombe and his magical warrior friend, the Campbell.

For a book so heavily weighted on the outcome of a series of football matches, there really is very little (none, in fact, for the first half) football involved in the book. Rankin manages to describe a series of far-fetched football frolics without delving into the world of soccer sensationalism. And much for the better.

Culminating in the smooth yet surprising splicing together of all the plots and sub-plots (as you'd hope), with a veritable feast of hilarious happenings along the way, Knees Up Mother Earth lodges itself firmly amongst the higher echelon of Rankin-produced humour, in this writer's opinion.

Whether you've read the rest of the series or not, this is as good a place as any to start, or just to join in again.

Rate a review "exceptional" if it gives readers outstanding advice for making a good buying decision

The review covers all aspects of the product and its user-friendliness which would be relevant to making a product choice. All remarks are founded on evidence from personal experience and the author remains objective throughout. A reader could find sufficient information here to base his/her purchase decision on this review alone.

Rate a review "very helpful" if it clearly supports others in making a good buying decision

The review covers a wide range of product features and the author's position is clearly-explained, well-structured and founded, for the most part, on solid evidence. This review would be of great use to somebody making a product choice, but would have to be used in conjunction with other information sources.

Rate a review "not helpful" if it gives inaccurate, offensive and useless information.

The review is not a helpful decision-making aid. The information it provides is subjective and lacks foundation. Perhaps the content contains comments which do not relate to the product and may be offensive to other members.

Rate a review "off topic" if it has been posted in the wrong place and/or does not discuss the product.

Reviews relating to products in other categories, or those which stray onto unrelated subjects should be rated "off topic". This will let other readers know that they need not read the review when seeking information that would be useful in a purchase decision.